Almazan resurfaces, vows to win back Letran officials' trust

Raymond Almazan sits at ringside with cousin Kerby Raymundo, who was reportedly the one who convinced the Letran slotman to resurface after over a month's absence. Jerome Ascano

RAYMOND Almazan, Letran’s prodigal son, has returned.

After over a month of unexplained absence, the 6-foot-7 beanpole finally resurfaced, appearing in the Knights’ NCAA men's basketball game against archrival San Beda on Thursday at The Arena in San Juan.

The 23-year-old Almazan said there was never a misunderstanding between him and the team, and insisted his disappearance was prompted by a bout with dengue fever and an old fracture on his right ankle.

“Wala namang ganun (misunderstanding sa team). Hindi lang ako nakapag-paalam ng maayos,” said Almazan, who has also been absent from all his classes at Letran where he was taking an Operations Management course.

Almazan’s wife, Liza, said contrary to her earlier statements to the team she had known where his husband was the whole time he went AWOL. She added the recent floods added to her husband's problems.

“Nagsabay-sabay na rin siguro,” said Liza, who sat beside Almazan while he was being interviewed inside the press room.

Aside from his wife, Almazan went to the game with cousin Kerby Raymundo, the Barangay Ginebra star center who was reportedly the one who convinced Almazan to come back.